There are a lot of interesting things going on in Milwaukee this offseason. It was pretty clear from watching their games last year this team had the talent to be in the playoffs coming out of the East but had little to no respect for Larry Krystkowiak...which was understandable. Bucks went cheap w/the coaching hire, players didn't respect it and the team had no leaders. Getting Richard Jefferson and drafting two other SF's still doesn't give them any leaders but Scott Skiles will make you play for him, and with the success he's already had perhaps Mo Williams will actually work this season after getting that big deal to stay there. Williams was perhaps the main reason that team underachieved. He put up good numbers but that's all they were. He played ZERO defense, was a bad teammate and a worse employee a season ago.
Skiles will implement a renewed sense of toughness to a team which desperately needs it. The apathy which has drowned this group over the past few seasons simply won't fly this year. Gone are the ultra-soft Bobby Simmons and Yi, and in are tough-minded veterans like Tryonn Lue and Malik Allen. Expect Andrew Bogut and Charlie V's rebound and hustle numbers to jump up in 08-09, while Michael Redd will hopefully return to his 05-07 form following his Olympic experience this summer.
Milwaukee had an interesting draft. Bringing in an elite-level talent like Richard Jefferson to play the 3 the day prior, I'm not sure I understand drafting Joe Alexander. Mbah a Moute in the second round I get because he's a Scott Skiles-type player down to his core, but with the eighth pick and the only glaring weakness on your team being at Power Forward, perhaps trading down and picking up a young but talented Marresse Speights after the lottery while adding an extra pick or two to form some depth would've been a wiser manuever. Regardless, expect to see the Bucks at the very least in contention for the playoffs this year and more than likely playing into May.
Keywords: Milwaukee Bucks
